July 1st, 2021
Are you looking to improve the appearance of your front teeth? Dental veneers are widely used to improve the appearance of front teeth and are a much more conservative option than a full dental crown. Veneers can be used to improve the appearance of staining, large gaps, large fillings, chipped teeth, or overall shape. Veneers are a thin covering over the front and biting end of the tooth used to restore the beauty of a smile. Over the years we have helped many patients who opted for veneers and now have the confidence to smile again.
Dental veneers are made in a lab from long-lasting porcelain materials. The shade can be chosen to a desirable color to whiten the appearance of your smile. Dental veneers are usually placed on the anterior, or front teeth, where the chewing forces are not as hard as the back teeth. The process of placing veneers is relatively easy requiring only two dental appointments. In some cases, only one appointment is needed. It depends on the fabrication process.
The first appointment is to “prep” the teeth and take an impression to be sent to a lab to fabricate the veneers. Veneers are fairly conservative in the preparation as it requires a small amount of space to be created on the face (front), bottom, and sides of each tooth to allow space for the veneer to be placed and look natural. You will leave the office with temporary veneers for the next week or two while the permanent veneers are being made.
The second appointment is to place the veneers and make minor adjustments if needed. What a difference it makes in the appearance of the teeth! If you’re interested in learning more, give Dr. Bill Whitley a call today!
June 23rd, 2021
Dr. Bill Whitley and our team know it can be easy to underestimate the significance of baby teeth. At Whitley Family Dental, we sometimes meet parents who assume that since their child's baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, eventually fall out and are replaced, they are less important. But did you know baby teeth serve purposes other than biting, chewing, and digesting food properly?
Baby teeth are essential not only for your child’s language development, but they also serve other important functions, like contributing to the normal development of your child’s jaw bones and facial muscles. Baby teeth also reserve space for your child’s future permanent teeth.
So, when do baby teeth fall out?
A baby tooth is intended to remain in your child’s mouth until the permanent tooth underneath it is ready to take its place. Sometimes, either due to a tooth being knocked out accidentally or being removed because of tooth decay, kids lose baby teeth before the permanent teeth are ready to erupt. If a tooth is lost, the teeth on either side of the open space may possibly push into the open space. The result? There may not be enough room for the permanent tooth when it is finally ready to erupt.
If you have any questions about your toddler’s teeth, or if your child is experiencing issues that concern you, please give us a call to set up an appointment at our convenient Dallas office.
June 22nd, 2021
Dental professionals are infectious control experts required to implement sterilization standards and protocols. In a pre-COVID world, our dental office was one of the most sterile environments you could find due to the required infectious control standards set by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In a post-COVID world, we have elevated our sterile standards. Our joke in the office is “we were sterile before COVID…and now we are sterile on STEROIDS!”
Dr. Bill, and our team, are thankful that the healthcare world has learned what we have known for years:
- Overall healthcare begins with oral healthcare
- Dental healthcare - including periodontal and proactive cleanings - IS essential healthcare
- Postponing smaller procedures/cleanings can lead to longer term issues and more costly procedures in the future
- Dental visits are safe if your dentist follows these infectious control standards
Article Links that enforce these principles:
Per the CDC dental office statistics published every Thursday, there have not been ANY documented cases of COVID transmission in a stand-alone dental office across the entire country. As such, the TSBDE allowed the COVID Emergency Rule 108.7 (16) to expire at midnight on Friday, June 18, 2021. This means that we can get back to practicing dentistry in the same sterile environment that we have practiced in for years.
How can you prevent contracting or spreading COVID-19?
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. If you do not have access to soap and water, use 70% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Do not use your hands
- Get the vaccine. At 95% efficacy, the vaccine is extraordinarily effective at protecting you from the virus.
- Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Calling in advance will allow your healthcare provider to quickly direct you to the right healthcare facility.
If you have any questions regarding our infectious control standards, please contact our office at 214-320-9679.
We look forward to seeing you again soon at your next dental visit!
June 16th, 2021
If you participate in sports or other physical activities, it’s wise to consider getting a mouthguard. Also known as mouth protectors, mouthguards are a device worn over the teeth to lessen the impact of a blow to the face.
This reduces the chance that you might lose teeth or sustain other serious oral injuries. We recommend that all patients involved in a contact sport such as wrestling, football, or hockey wear a mouthguard because of the high risk of such injuries.
However, anyone involved in a physically demanding sport or activity should wear a mouthguard as well.
Can you imagine what it would be like to lose a few of your front teeth? The way you talk, eat, and smile would all change. Potential injuries when you don’t wear a mouthguard include chipped and broken teeth, fractured jaws, root damage, damage to crowns and bridgework, concussions, and/or injury to the lips, cheeks, or gums.
Types of Mouthguards
There are three different types of mouthguards — typically made of a soft plastic material or laminate. You can decide which works best for you in terms of budget, fit, and comfort.
- Stock mouthguards are prefabricated to a standard size. They offer adequate protection, but you need to make sure you find one that fits properly and comfortably. Stock mouthguards are readily available at department stores, sporting goods stores, and online.
- Boil-and-bite mouthguards are placed in boiling water to soften them, then into the mouth so they can conform to the shape of the teeth. Boil-and-bite mouthguards are more expensive, but offer a more customized fit than stock ones. You can find these in department stores, pharmacies, sporting goods stores, and online.
- Custom-made mouthguards are created just for you by Dr. Bill Whitley. These offer the best fit and comfort of all the options, but they are also the most expensive. Ask a member of our Dallas team for more information.
The American Dental Association says a good mouthguard should be easy to clean, fit properly, be comfortable, and resist tearing or damage. It shouldn’t restrict speech or breathing.
Still not sure if you need a mouthguard or which kind is right for you? Ask Dr. Bill Whitley or one of our staff members for more information.
